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J. McKECHNlE.

CAR FOR AIRSHIPS.

APPLICATION FILED APR-25, 1919.

Patented May 11, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

1. M cKECHNIE.

CAR FOR AIRSHIPS.

APPLICATION FILED APR-25. I919.

Patented May 11,1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J. MCKECHNIE.

CAR FOR AIRSHIPS.

APPLICATION FILED APR-25,19I9.

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Ln 4 m d3 0v L w n e UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES MOKECHNIE, OF BARROW-IN-FUBNESS, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR T0 VICKERS LIMITED, OF WESTMINSTER, LONDON, ENGLAND.

CAR FOR AIRSHIPS.

Application filed April 25, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Sir JAMES MoKnoH- NIE, K. B. 15., a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Naval Construction VOI'kS, Barrow-in-Furness, in the rounty of Lancaster, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in or Relating to Cars for Airships, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to cars for use on lighter-than air craft such as airships or dirigible balloons (hereinafter termed airships).

According to one feature of the present invention the car is made of stream-line formation, i. 0. approximately cigar shaped, and a short length of the nose or bow framework of the car is provided with transparent windows of glass or celluloid around its circumference, the extreme point of the nose of the car being also preferably cut off and, in the blunt end which is thus formed, a flat window, which may be circular and formed in two parts, is inserted. The pointed nose of the stream-line car which would otherwise be unsuited for utilization by being made transparent in this manner is adapted for use as an observation station and an observer stationed therein can obtain an unobstructed view from the car in practically all directions.

Vithin the nose of the car may be provided the necessary instruments for navi gating the air ship, 0. 9., the prismatic compass and binnacle, and the navigating sights, and immediately abaft these may be placed the steering wheel and the seat for the navigating officer who is thus so positioned within the car that an unobstructed view can, without movement, be readily obtained downwardly, forwardly and later ally.

According to another feature of the present invention and for the purpose of resisting shock on landing a pneumatic bump ing or buffer bag or bags of any usual construction may be placed on the underside of the car framework and held in position by being inclosed within, or surrounded by a watertight fabric covering, thus providing a water tight space or compartment (or spaces or compartments) of considerable area around the bag or bags. By these means a sufiicient displacement is obtained when landing on water to support the whole Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 11, 1920.

Serial No. 292,720.

practice the same will now be described more fully with reference to the aecompanying drawings, in which I Figure l is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the nose of the stream-line car.

Fig. 2 is a part sectional plan view of Fi l.

*ig. 3 is an elevation of the nose of the car looking in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1, showing the windows in the forward portion thereof.

Fig. l is an elevation of the center part of the car showing the buffer hag.

Fig. 5 is a section through the line Y--Y of Fig. l.

Fig. 6 is an ele ation of the buffer bag on an enlarged scale, and Fig. '7 is a section on a still larger scale, taken on the line X-X of Fig. 6.

A is the nose of the car, B, B are the windows disposed around its circumference, and C is the circular window in the blunt end of the nose of the car. D is the prismatic compass and binnacle, E designates the bomb and navigating sights, F is the seat for the navigating ofiicer or bombsighter, G is the steering wheel, H is the steering wheel pedestal and I is the cockpit. The seat F for the navigating officer is of 'the tip-up type and is attached to the steering pedestal H, the steersman who stands in the cockpit I being thus situated immediately behind the navigating oflicer in such a position that a clear View of the prismatic compass is obtained by both. Navigating orders can be transmitted by the oflieer to the coxswain by means of a suitably placed voice-pipe or a telephone (not shown).

As shown in the drawings the car, which is approximately cigar-shaped and of stream-line form, is substantially polygonal in cross section and built up of longitudinal member J held in place by suitable transverse frames K, the structure being stiffened by means of wire bracing L. The extreme point of the car is cut oil to form the aforesaid llat circular window C and the first two sections M N oi the bow frame work are adapted to carry the aforesaid cireu1n'l.erential windows 13, B; both the circular window (l at the nose and the windows B, B beneath the bombing sights being formed in two sliding parts 0, c. The remainder ot the car behind the transparent portion is suitably covered by fabric or other light n aterial in order -.T() reduce the weight to a minimum.

the bulfer bag, which in the example shown is of stream-line formation and composed of 5 ply fabric, and which is located within a covering of stout supporting canvas P stretched between two lower points Q, Q of the car so that spaces or compartments 7?, p of large area are formed around the butler bag 0. At the upper or gcs oi the supporting canvas 1" are secured light can as covering strips 1), for the purpose of maintaining the covering watertight. The covering is provided at its lower part with rubbing cords 11 which prevent d ainagc to the covering 1 and which may be composed of coir cords fastened, at front and rear to the covering 1. as shown at F l. The buller bag is held in plare by means of cords S which pass thrmigh 1 cured to the butler bag, the liar '1 t being carried by a. itabric strip 25 secured to the top of the bi'iflier bag, which strip t acts as a rubbing piece.

lVhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is l. A 211' for an airship, the nose o'li which is employed as an observation station and is made transparent so that an observer stationed therein can obtain an unobstructed view in p 'actically all. directions said car laps T sebeing;- also provided. with a pneumatic bull'er bag; which is iuclosed within a waterproof covering siid covering being attached to the car in such manner as to provide a watertight s ace or coi'npartinent around the lower side of said buffer bag.

2. A. *ar for an airship, the nose of which is employed as an observation station and is made transparnit so that an observer stationed therein can obtain an unobstructed view in practically all directions, said car being: also provided with pneumatic huflier means inelosed within a i'aterproo'l. covering, the edges of said covering icing attached to the car in such marine as to provide watertight spares or compartments around. the lower side of said buffer means.

3. car tor any air ship which is of strean'i-line Formation and in whie i a short lengtl'i ot the nose or how l t YHHVOl'li is proville E with transparent wnn, ows around its ciri no l e hence, said car being also provided with pneumatic buller means inclosed withi a v: terprool ,:overiup; said covering being attached to the ca r in such rnanner as to provide w watertight s; a or con'ipart- .ineut around, the lower side oi? said luiller means i. oar 'lor an airship which is of st c. n l in l'orination and in which a short JAM ES MoKECHNIll. 

